Rubber shot packing

ABSTRACT

A rubber shot packing ( 10 ) comprises a predetermined or approximately predetermined number of hard rubber elements ( 11 ) that are arranged in a dense packing. In this case, the hard rubber elements ( 11 ) are altogether surrounded by a plastic film ( 13 ). Such a rubber shot packing ( 10 ) is intended for firing as an active charge with a powder charge that is separate from the active charge. In this case, at least one disc ( 20 ) is arranged, intended for the insertion side with respect to the powder charge, having an outside diameter corresponding to the dimensions of the firing cup and firmly connected to the rubber shot packing ( 10 ) axially centrally in relation to the hard rubber elements ( 11 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a rubber shot packing with the features of the precharacterizing clause of Claim 1, that is to say comprising a predetermined or approximately predetermined number of hard rubber elements that are arranged in a dense packing, the hard rubber elements altogether being surrounded by a plastic film, intended for firing as an active charge with a powder charge that is separate from the active charge.

Rubber shot according to the invention forms a projectile for insertion into a cup that is fitted onto an appropriately equipped firearm. Rubber shot is fired by a propellant charge, which is loaded in the firearm separately from the packing.

PRIOR ART

Rubber shot packings according to the precharacterizing clause of Claim 1 are known from the prior art. In Switzerland, police forces use such packings, which are fired with a model Tgw 73, which is a carbine with a short barrel and a fitted cup. The packings that are commonly used at present comprise five layers of cross-sectionally hexagonal hard rubber projectiles each turned by 30 degrees with respect to one another and held together by a film.

It is disadvantageous in this case that gas cutting occurs, in that the gas generated by the propellant charge forces its way between the cup and the shrunk-on film at the points at which the flat sides of the outer hexagonal hard rubber projectiles are opposite the round wall of the cup. The film has also been produced from a shrink tube, with the result that the gas also penetrates into the packing through the lower opening and forces its way between the individual hard rubber projectiles, which are consequently separated in advance from one another. The resultant advantage of the greater scattering effect is offset by the disadvantage of gas cutting.

Shot munition packed in a shrink tube is known from the prior art document U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,037, in which the active charge packed in this way is separated from the powder charge by a disc that is arranged within the hull and has an upturned rim toward both parts of the charge. Such shot munition cannot be used in the case of a rubber shot packing, since a cup is necessary for firing, with the result that the active charge and the powder charge must be loaded separately in spatial and temporal terms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against the background of this prior art, the invention is based on the object of developing a rubber shot packing of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that improved firing is obtained with less gas cutting and at the same time a greater scattering effect occurs.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a rubber shot packing comprising a predetermined or approximately predetermined number of hard rubber elements, which are arranged in a dense packing. The term hard rubber element is also understood as meaning a material of a certain hardness, which in particular may, for example, also contain a metal core or be in the form of a mixture containing metal. Instead of metal, other materials that contribute to a greater density without excessively increasing the hardness may also be used. In this case, the hard rubber elements are altogether surrounded by a plastic film. Such a rubber shot packing is intended for firing as an active charge with a powder charge separate from the active charge. In this case, at least one disc is arranged, intended for the insertion side with respect to the powder charge, having an outside diameter corresponding to the dimensions of the firing cup and firmly connected to the rubber shot packing axially centrally in relation to the hard rubber elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described by way of example on the basis of an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic, partly interrupted side view of a rubber shot packing according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic, partly interrupted side view of a rubber shot packing according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a rubber shot packing according to FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a hard rubber element of a rubber shot packing as shown in FIG. 1 or 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic, partly interrupted side view of a rubber shot packing 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. The rubber shot packing 10 here comprises, for example, five layers of hard rubber elements 11. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a hard rubber element 11 of a rubber shot packing 10 as shown in FIG. 1 or 2. The hard rubber elements 11 according to the exemplary embodiments are hexagonal and the edges at the top and bottom are rounded off. This allows them to be placed one against the other without any intermediate spaces, and seven hard rubber elements 11 form a layer.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a rubber shot packing 10 according to FIG. 2. The uppermost layer of the seven hard rubber elements 11 can be seen well.

Between the mutually facing outer sides of two adjacent outer hard rubber elements 11, in each case a hard rubber element 11 of the layer located thereunder can be seen, the latter layer being turned by 30 degrees in relation to the uppermost layer. It is of course also possible to use other forms, for example cylindrical forms, for the hard rubber elements 11. This applies in particular to a packing 10 according to the invention such as that subsequently obtained in conjunction with the discs 20.

A similar packing density may also be achieved with spheres as hard rubber elements 11. It is of course also possible to use a different number of layers. The diameter 12 of the packing 10 in the case of the illustrated exemplary embodiment is 57 millimetres, which corresponds to the cup diameter of the gun to be used. However, other diameters are also possible, both overall, for example 40 millimetres, and of the individual hard rubber elements 11.

In the case of the first exemplary embodiment, a disc 20 is arranged over the first layer of hard rubber elements 11. The disc 20 is a round solid disc and may have, for example, a thickness of between 1 and 10 millimetres, with preference between 3 and 6 millimetres. It is made of a lightweight material, for example of cardboard or of preferably comparatively soft plastic, for example one of the various types of PE or PVC.

The disc 20 has essentially the inside diameter of the cup. In the production of the shot packing 10 as shown in FIG. 1, it is placed onto the layers of the elements 11, centred once at the top and once at the bottom, and subsequently covered by a film tube 13, which after shrinkage lies against the shot packing 10 and makes the latter into an element that can be used as one piece.

The fact that a tube 13 is used means that essentially round openings without tube film are obtained at the bottom and top, as can be seen in FIG. 3, it being assumed that the disc 20 is transparent.

Use of the disc 20 on the one hand prevents gas cutting from occurring between the edges 14 of the hard rubber elements 11 during the firing of the munition. On the other hand, the disc 20 sealing the cup in its diameter also makes it no longer possible for gas to escape in the transitional spaces 16.

In principle, it would be possible also to provide just one disc 20, although the shot packing 10 would then have to be inserted into the cup of the gun in a directionally oriented manner, to be specific with the disc facing towards the powder charge. In order to alleviate the user of the shot packing 10 of this possibility for error, discs are preferably provided on both sides of the packing. In order conversely to allow the user of the shot packing 10 the choice concerning the scattering behaviour, it is also possible to provide just one disc on one side of the packing.

On firing, these discs 20 are on the one hand rapidly decelerated. On the other hand, tests have shown that, as a result of the discs 20, the layers of the packing 10 have not been pulled apart lengthwise, but rather have been distributed widthwise, which has surprisingly led to a considerably better scattering effect. The velocity of the hard rubber elements 11 is more uniform. Consequently, the dangerousness of this non-lethal munition with respect to serious injuries is yet further reduced. It is adequate to place the individual hard rubber elements 11 and the discs 20 on top of one another and to have them held together by the film 13.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic, partly interrupted side view of a rubber shot packing 10 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention. Here, the shrink tube 13 has been placed in advance around the layers of the hard rubber elements 11. Only subsequently have the two discs 20 then been placed in a centred manner onto this semifinished shot packing. They have then been adhesively attached, as shown in FIG. 2, onto the shrink tube 13 and centrally onto the middle hard rubber element. Of course, other possible means of fastening are also suitable, for instance the shrink tube 13 may adhesively attach itself to the disc, or the shrink tube 13 and the plastic disc 20 are welded, for example by ultrasound. Here, likewise, all that is important is that on the one hand no gas can pass through the layers through the central opening of the shrink tube 13 and on the other hand the region between the outside of the cup and the side of the shrink tube 13 is covered.

Here it is also advisable to have two discs 20 at the opposite ends, in order to produce a symmetrical shot packing. In the case of a more simple exemplary embodiment, in particular if the disc 20 is of a certain colour that the user immediately recognizes as the insertion side, it is also possible to use just a single disc 20.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 rubber shot packing -   11 hard rubber element -   12 diameter -   13 tube film -   14 edge -   16 transitional space -   20 disc 

1. A rubber shot packing comprising an active charge intended for firing, and a powder charge that is separate from the active charge, the active charge comprising a predetermined or approximately predetermined number of hard rubber elements, wherein the hard rubber elements are arranged in a dense packing, a plastic film surrounding altogether the hard rubber elements, and a disc, intended to be arranged on the insertion side of the packing with respect to the powder charge, having an outside diameter corresponding to the dimensions of the firing cup and firmly connected to the rubber shot packing axially centrally in relation to the hard rubber elements.
 2. The rubber shot packing according to claim 1, wherein the plastic film also surrounds the disc.
 3. The rubber shot packing according to claim 1, wherein the disc lies on the plastic film and is fastened to the latter or to one of the hard rubber elements.
 4. The rubber shot packing according to claim 1, characterized in that the disc has a thickness of between 1 and 10 millimetres, with preference between 3 and 6 millimetres.
 5. The rubber shot packing according to claim 1, wherein the disc is made of a soft plastic, in particular of a PE material, or of a cardboard material.
 6. The rubber shot packing according to claim 1, wherein the disc is connected to the plastic film by an adhesive and/or by ultrasonic welding.
 7. The rubber shot packing according to claim 1, wherein the plastic film is a tube, which shrinks in particular when exposed to heat.
 8. The rubber shot packing according to claim 1, wherein a second additional disc is provided on the side of the packing opposite to the first disc.
 9. The rubber shot packing according to claim 8, wherein the two discs lie on the plastic film and are fastened to the latter or to one of the hard rubber elements.
 10. The rubber shot packing according to claim 8, characterized in that the discs have a thickness of between 1 and 10 millimetres, with preference between 3 and 6 millimetres.
 11. The rubber shot packing according to claim 8, wherein the discs are made of a soft plastic, in particular of a PE material, or of a cardboard material.
 12. The rubber shot packing according to claim 8, wherein the discs are connected to the plastic film by an adhesive and/or by ultrasonic welding.
 13. The rubber shot packing according to claim 8, wherein the plastic film is a tube, which shrinks in particular when exposed to heat. 